Living Country Blues: An Anthology [BOX SET]

Various Artists (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 28, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 28, 1999
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Evidence
• ASIN: B00001SI9F
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #196,910 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
There are a number of clever things about Living Country Blues, a three-CD anthology that comprises a 14-LP set originally recorded in 1980 and released only in Germany (how's that for obscure?). One of the more clever things is that the music is divided up on each disc according to region. If you've ever wondered what the difference is between Delta, Piedmont, and other regional styles, really, here's a chance to explore the subtle differences. There are some oddities as well; Othar Turner performing "When I Lay My Burden Down" with the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band will sound strange to anyone used to 12-string guitar and mouth harp. The accompanying CD booklet includes bios of the artists, which will come in handy, as the average listener is likely to have heard of few of them; John Cephas, Phil Wiggins, CeDell Davis, and James "Son" Thomas are among the more well-known names that appear here. People generally think of the blues these days as electrified, up-tempo, and urban, and indeed country blues isn't as popular as it used to be. But it's still alive and kicking, as Living Country Blues proves. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful relic, August 8, 2001

By	John Courtade (Austin, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Most of these artists are dead or soon to be, and they're, to my great unhappiness, not minting very many more of them. If you're a country blues enthusiast, you're already familiar with Cephas & Wiggins, Sam Chatmon, Hammie Nixon, and many of the other names recording on this 3 c.d. set and don't require any further endorsements. What distinguishes this set in my view is the eclecticism of the selection, its organization into Delta, Piedmont, and other schools, and the very fine audio quality for field recordings. I also have the Giants of Country Blues Guitar series on Wolf, of which volume one is a desert island disk in my view. Nonetheless, the audio quality of Sam Chatmon recording "Stop and Listen" on this set is far superior (although I miss the barking dog in the background on the Wolf recording). We owe a debt of gratitude to the Germans who made these field recordings as well as to Chris Strachwitz and others who recorded this vanishing American resource.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular music., October 22, 1999

By A Customer

This is basic blues, usually just some guy with his acoustic guitar. If you like Lightnin' Hopkins or Sonny Terry, you will like this. If you LOVE them, like I do, then this beautiful collection will make you very happy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting overview, May 17, 2000

By	M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Read the track list - it illustrates the breadth of material in this anthology. Some of the more obscure such as the drum and fife group of Othar Turner are currently available in their own CD. Others such as Stonewall Mays have no other recordings.

Personal favorites include Jesus Is on the Mainline and Soon One Morning.... but my favorites change with each hearing.

Careful listening to these recordings will (a) give you a greater appreciation for the variety of musical styles that are called "blues" (b) give you a greater appreciation of the musicianship of unknowns and (c) give you a grand old time ...